THE FRAN DRESCHER MOVEMENT

Marco Benatoff, DuJour Magazine

When she’s acting, Fran Drescher likes to take cues from her real life. Last year’s Happily Divorced, a second act in sitcoms for the former Nanny, was based on Drescher’s relationship with ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson. Lately, though, the New York comedienne has been drawing on her experiences for a much bigger role—no acting involved: Following her 2002 memoir Cancer Schmancer, in which she chronicles her battle with uterine cancer and recovery from a radical hysterectomy, an invigorated Drescher started the Cancer Schmancer Movement and has been making headway in a whole new direction. “I think cancer put me on a tailspin so I could come out the other end of it a rebuilt, reinvented person,” she tells DuJour.

Now, at 56, the actress is willed enough to take on anything from leading public service campaigns to running for elected office, even—especially side-by-side with a young new partner, Shiva Ayyadurai. Below, she chats with DuJour about the new “Don’t Drink and Drive,” her thoughts on adoption and her newfound joy in life.

Click here to read the entire interview in DuJour Magazine